Origin
Ketchikan, AK
Late night in Ketchikan on Wednesday
Local time
3:35 AM
AKDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ketchikan, AK to Petersburg, AK
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
9h 8m
Distance
151.7 mi
244 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 1m
★
6 AM
9h 9m
8 AM
9h 25m
10 AM
9h 15m
12 PM
9h 13m
3 PM
9h 16m
5 PM
9h 25m
8 PM
9h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ketchikan, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Petersburg, AK
Vitali Adutskevich
Trip Overview
The drive from Ketchikan, AK to Petersburg, AK covers 151.7 miles and takes about 9h 8m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell, Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg, Tongass Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.1 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
75.9 miles from Ketchikan, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 25m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 9h 8m drive with frequent turns across 151.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell is the longest continuous segment at about 102.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near AK 7 / Water Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AK 7 / Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road): Navigation decision point; at 104.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AK 7 / Water Street
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Water Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
Navigation decision point
5
104.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 5m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
150.7 mi into trip
|
~9h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
150.8 mi into trip
|
~9h 7m in
|
AK 7 / South Nordic Drive
At end of road, turn left onto AK 7 / South Nordic Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell | 102.1 mi | 6h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg | 46.2 mi | 3h |
| Tongass Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Nordic Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Water Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Fram Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
— 102.1 mi, about 6h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ketchikan, AK and Petersburg, AK.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7
218 ft
·
11 sec
·
Water Street
3
Continue on Water Street
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Water Street
4
Turn left onto AK 7
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Tongass Avenue
5
Turn left
128 ft
·
5 sec
6
Turn right
428 ft
·
37 sec
7
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
468 ft
·
40 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
8
Turn slight right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
102 mi
·
6 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
9
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
46 mi
·
3 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
10
Continue
0.1 mi
·
45 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
156 ft
·
17 sec
12
At end of road, turn left onto AK 7
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Nordic Drive
13
Turn right onto Fram Street
376 ft
·
16 sec
·
Fram Street
14
Arrive at destination
Fram Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.9 miles from Ketchikan, AK, or about 4h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 4h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.9 miles or 4h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 75.9 miles or 4h 25m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Petersburg, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ketchikan, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 76 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Petersburg, AK
Aim for roughly 76 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ketchikan, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell for about 102.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.9 mi from Ketchikan, AK · 4h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
76 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Metlakatla, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
76 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Metlakatla, AK after about 76 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.9 miles from Ketchikan, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 76 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in Petersburg, AK
The final approach into Petersburg, AK usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Petersburg, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Petersburg, AK with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.88 one way
$65.76 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $34.57 | $69.15 |
| premium | $5.98 | $35.72 | $71.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.49 | $66.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$163–$273
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.93 | $7.28 |
| Efficient EV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.27 | $6.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.7 | 0 | $21.24 | $9.71 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Petersburg, AK
Late night in Petersburg on Wednesday
Local time
3:35 AM
AKDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
9h 8m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ketchikan, AK to Petersburg, AK covers 151.7 miles and takes about 9h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell, Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg, Tongass Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 76 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 75.9 miles from Ketchikan, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AK 7 / Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road): Navigation decision point; at 104.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
The route from Ketchikan, AK to Petersburg, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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